Chair



Aug, 2, 1932. G. F; CORDUAN CHAIR Filed July 2e, '1929 5 Sheets-Sheet l ug, 2, i932.

G. F. CORDUAN CHAIR Filed July 2e, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 a i 4 r M6 @d T S X y 0 y gud. m Q f r .l fv U0. 0 w

b @21525 Pie?- Aug. 2, 1932..

G. F. CORDUAN CHAIR v Filed July'ze. 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug. 2, 1932. G. F. CORDUAN CHAIR Y 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 26. 1929 @1mg-S Aug. 2, 1932. G. F. coRDuAN CHAIR Filed July 25. 1929V 5 sheets-sheet 5 Patented Aug. 2, 1932 UNITED STATESy PATENT OFFICE GUSTAVE F. CORDUAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CORDUAN MANUFACTUR- ING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, .A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS CHAIR Application led .Tuly 26, 1929. Serial No. 381,278. i

This inventionv relates to certain new and useful improvements in chairs, and more articularly to an improved chair of the fol ing type adapted for use with card tables, or for similar purposesf The general object of the invention is to provide a substantially all metal folding chair that is strong and rigid, of light weight in proportion to its strength, easy to collapse or erect for use, and economical to manufacture.

Another object is to provide a chair consisting of a few simple metal parts, many of which are interchangeable or reversible, and which parts are easily assembled.

Another object is to provide a metal chair that presents an attractive appearance, is adapted for surface ornamentation and is comfortable When in use.

Another object is to provide a chair Which is strong and rigid When erected for use, but which may be easily folded into very compact form for storage.

Another object is to provide an improved form of cushioned supporting member for use in the seat or back of a chair.

Another object is to provide an improved form of reinforced metal leg for use in a chair of this type.

Another object is to provide an improved form of cushioned foot construction for the leg of a metal chair.

Another object is to provide an improved method of anchoring the hinged brackets within the metal leg members.

Another object is to provide an improved form of reinforced seat for a chair of this type.

Another object is to provide an improved form of holding seat and leg construction for ametal chair.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description of one approved construction of chair involving the principles of this invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of the chair, in position for use, the chair being shown folded in dotted lines.

ing a fastening means used in the back and seat construct1on.

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of the seat, the view being taken substantially on the line 7--7 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 8 is a central vertical section through one of the rear legs.

Fig. 9 is an inside elevation of one of the cushioned feet.

Fig. 10 is a horizontal section through the leg construction. this view bein taken substantially on the line 10-10 of ig. 8. v

Fig. 11 is a detail horizontal section, taken substantially on the line 11-11 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 12' is a detail Vertical section through ,the rear hinge construction, taken substantially on the line 12-12 of -Fi 7.

Fig. 13 is a similar view t rough one of the front hinges, the view being taken substantially on the line 13-13 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 14 is a detail vertical sectionthrough the slidemechanism, the View being taken substantially on the line 1li-14 of Fig. 7

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the slide member.

Fig. 16 is a perspective View of the latch member.

The chair consists essentially of a rigidly assembled back construction comprising a cushion back member A, a pair of rear legs B, and an intermediate bracing structure designated generally at C; a cushioned seat member D hingedly connected with the back'structure; a pair of front legs E hingedly connected with the seat D; a spacing structure indicated generally at F for maintaining the several legs in properly spaced relation; and a bracing strut construction' in- I legs B and brace the same.

. the pad 6. The covering 7 may be suitablydicated generally at G for holding the parts in rigid relationship when unfolded for use.

The back A comprises a sheet metal plate or stamping 1 having upwardly and inwardly edge portions 2 so as to form a dish vfor receiving the cushion. The member 1 is grooved or corrugated as indicated at 3 so as to both reinforce the back and present an ornamental appearance on its rear side. This ornamentation 3 comprises substantially vertical channel portions 4 which serve to receive` the upper end portions of the rear The cushion comprises an inner filler 5 in the form of a rather' thick plate or slab of suitable fibrous material which is preferably light but somewhat elastic. A pad 6 of suitable soft wadding material is placedl over the filler 5. A flexible sheet covering 7 of fabric, imitation leather, or similar material is placed over ornamented on its exposed side. The cushion is preferably assembled as a unitby glu ing lthe inturned ed es of covering 7 onto the back of filler bloc 5. The cushion is positioned within the dished back plate 1 and is then held in place by a metal binding strip 8 of semi-circular cross section, this chanlneled binding strip being placed over the edge portion of the cushion and theinwardly rounded edge portion 2 of the back plate. For fastening the ends of the binding channel member 8 in position, a metallic staple 9 is passed through mating openings in the upturned edge portion 2 of plate 1 and the end portion of the binding strip 8,- and the ends yof the staple bent down as indicated in Fig. 6. ln order to revent the staple from being pushed inwar ly vagainst the cushion 40 during this clamping process, the staple. is

welded to the edge portion 2 as indicated at 10.

Each rear leg B comprises an inner metal rod orstifi'ener 11 around which lis bent a sheet netal covering member 12, the edges of this metal member meeting along a line 13 on the inner side of the leg. The rear exposed face of the covering 12 can be corrugated or stamped to give it any desired ornamental configuration-as indicated at 14.

' Asimilarly ornamented metal covering strip 15 may be vsecured over the joint 13 on the front face of the leg on the exposed portions between the back A and seat D and at other places if so desired. The stiffener rod 11 may terminate short of the upper end portion 1 6 of the legs B, which are flattened and inserted through openings 17 in the back plate 1 and extended up into they channels 4 behind the cushion where they are anchored in place by means of rivets 18.

' The improved foot construction comprises a metal shoe 19 secured about the lower end of the leg B. 1`his shoev comprises a` semi-spherical lower cap portion 20 ofgreat- Y are preferably er diameter than the lower end of the leg so as to form an outwardly extending rib 2l from which an ornamental late portion 22 extends up along the rear aces of the leg,

and a pair of side armsor clips or tabs 23y are/bent around the lower portion of the leg so as to meet substantially along the dividing line 13. A rubber pad 24 is placed over the lower rounded shoe portion 20 and secured in place by an annular cap 25 having a lower inwardly extending flange 26 engaged over pad 24, the upper edges of the cap 25 being` crimped inwardly at 27 over the outward y extending flange 21 of shoe 19. A hinge plate 28 is secured in each leg B 'at the proper height to support the seat D.

to form an attaching plate 32 from which extends downwardly and outwardly an auxiliary attaching plate 33. The hinge plate 28 is held at the proper elevation in the leg B and revented from movement longitudinally ot the leg by crimping or bending the edge covering plate 12 inwardly above and below this plate to the line 13, as `already described. The covering member 12 is separated at the height of the hinge plates suiciently to permit the bracket arms or lugs to project at the inner face of the leg. Similar hinge members 34v are secured in the legs B at points adjacent the lowerends of these legs, each hinge plate 34 comprising an in` wardly projecting hinge lug or bracket 35 and a laterally projecting attaching plate 36 from' which projects upwardly and inwardly an auxiliary attaching plate 37. Sheet metal spacing bars or struts 38 are spot-welded at their ends to the res ective pairs of attaching plates 32 and 36. imilar diagonially extending bracing plates vor struts 39 are spot-welded at their outer ends to theseveral attaching plates 33 and 37 and at their inner ends to a central plate 40",' which may be of a circular or other ornamental confi'guration. The struts 38 and 39 'ven a corrugated or other ornamental con guration corresponding to the covering members 12 and 15 of the legs, and the ornamental stamping 3 and 4 in the back plate 1. The lower hinge plates 34 are held in place within the legs by crimping the covering sheet 12 inwardly above and below the bracket members, as already described in connection with the upper hinge plates.

The front legs E maybe made of the same general construction as the rear legs B, and

omitted in the example here shown. Lower hinge plates are centrally looped at 41 to lit within the sheet metal leg member and are formed with integral rearwardly projecting hinge lugs 42 and laterally projecting attaching plates 43. The looped portion 41 is inserted within the leg E and has portions 41 extendin ugwardly and downwardly within the leg eyond the plates 42 and 43. The flanges of the sheet metal leg are crimped inwardl above and below the plates 42 and 43 to old the hinge member from movement lengthwise of the leg. A bracing strut or bar 44 formed of sheet metal bent into flattened tubular form Vconnects the attaching plates 43 and is spot-welded thereto. The exposed face of bracing member 44 is corrugated or ornamented in the same manner as the legs already described.

The side links F have the same general form as the bracing rod 44 just described, with their end portions 45 flattened and perforated to receive attaching ins or rivets 46 by means of which the lin s are pivoted at their front and rear ends to the hinge lugs 42 and 35 respectively. A sheet metal yhinge plate 47 is bent to lit within the uplper end portion of leg E and is formed wit a rearwardly projecting hinge lug 48. The hinge member 47 is welded or riveted within the upper portion of the leg E.

The seat D has the same General construction as the back member r'st described. It comprises a base plate 4 9 of sheet metal which is ribbed or corrugated as indicated at 50 to ive it additional strength and stiflness. T e edges of plate 49 are upwardly and inwardly curved at 51 and the cushion member 52 is secured in place by an outer channeled bindin strip 53, in the same manner as in the baclgl member. The cushion 52 is exactly the same as the cushion of the back member except that it has a greater area and different outer contour.

Front hinge brackets 54 have hinge lugs 55 projecting downwardly through slots 56 in the base plate 49, and have horizontal arms 57 which are welded to the upper face of plate 49. The hinge lugs 55 are pivotally connected by hinge pins 58 to the hinge lugs 48 of the front legs E.l The hinge members and legs are so proportioned that when the parts are swung to supporting position as shown in Figs. 1 and 13 the upper end of each leg E will rest directly against the lower face of plate 49 of seat D so that the weight supported by the chair is transferred directly from the seat to the legs and is not carried by the hinge bolts 58.

The rear hinge'brackets 59 are secured to the seat in the same manner as the front hin e bracket 54, each bracket having a h orizonta l extending inner arm 60 welded to the upper face of base plate 49. The lower bracket arm 61 extends rearwardly in a vertical plane and ris provided with a seeming rib e2 and terminates at its rear end in a perforated ear 63 which receives the hinge rivet 64 by means of which the bracket is hinged to hinge lug 30 of one of the rear legs B. The hinge arm 61 is provided with a laterally projecting supporting lug 65 which engages and rests upon a lug 66 formed on the hinge bracket 30 when the seat is swung down to the position shown in'Fi 3 so as to relieve thehinge pin 64 of the weight sustained by the seat D.

The base plate 49 of seat D is slit centrally from a point adjacent the front edge thereof to a oint adjacent the rear edge, and the metal a jacent each sideof this slit is depressed so that an open slot 67 is formed. A reinforcing cover plate 68 is positioned above the slot 67 and the depressed portions of the base plate and spot-welded at 69 to the upper surface of this plate 49 so as to form a guide channel 7 O extending centrally from front to rear of the `lower face of the seat. A guide member 7l (see Figs. 14 and 15) is conveniently formed by welding together two right-angled sheet metal members so as to form a pair of oppositely projecting horizontal side arms 72 adapted to slide in the channel 70 and a downs wardl projecting portion 73 adapted to cxtend own through the open slot 67 and slide therein. The vertical member 73 is formed with a perforated hinge lug- 74 and a latch lug 75. The struts G, which may be formed of flattened tubular sheet metal members similar to the members F already described, are pivotally connected at their upper ends by means of hinge rivet 76 to the hinge lug 74 on the slide 71. These struts G extend downwardly and outwardly as best shown in Figs. 2 and 14 and are pivotally connected at their lower ends to the lower hinge lugs 35 on the rear le s, by means of hinge bolts 46 as already descri ed. l

The latch member 77 (shown in perspective in Fig. 16) comprises a piece of sheet metal stamped to form a bottom central plate portion 8 having a locking recess 79 to receive the latch lug on slide'member 71, and a pair of upwardly extending side arms 80 perfo'- rated at 81 to receive a pivot pin. An operating 'arm 82 projects rearwardly from the central plate 78. A U-shaped sheet metal bracket member 83 is inserted from above through suitably spaced slots in the base plate 49, with is central portion held in place at one end of channel 70 and its perforated side arms 84 projecting downwardly and serving as hinge lugs to which the latch member 77 is pivoted by means of hinge pin 85. A coiled spring 86 engaged aboutthe hinge pin 85 serves to normally hold the latch member in the locking position shown in Fig. 3, but by pressing up on the arm 82 the opposite arm of the latch member may be depressed to release the latch lug 75 of slide 71 from the opening 79 in latch member 77. The forward lside of latch lug slide member` will automatically engage with 75 is beveled as indicated at 7 5 so that the .the latch when the slide is moved tooperative position at the forward end of the guide channel. l

It should now be apparent that with the chair in the operative position shown in Eig. 3, by merely grasping the front edge portlon of seat D and the arm S2 of latch 77' with the thumb and lingers the latch is released and without changing this grasp the seat maybe swung up to the. foldedposition shown in Fig. 2 and in dotted lines in Fig. 1. During this upward swinging movement of the seat, the slide ''l will automatically move to the rear end of channel-70, and the front legs E and 'the bracing struts F and G will all swing up into substantial parallelism with the rear legs B. It will be noted that the lower front bracing bar 44. is bowed outwardly so that when swung up to the folded position shown in Fig. 2 it will curve outwardly around the struts G and'thus permit a more compact assembly of the parts when in this folded position. When the chair is to be again erected for use, the operator merely grasps the seat D and swings fit downwardly. The latch 77 automatically engages with the latch lug 7 5 when the seat D reachesa horizontal position and the parts of the chair are all held rigidly in this operating position. It will be noted that the weight-supporting parts of the chair are all of rigid and substantial construction and the legs are securely braced one from another. When the chair is in normal position, the seat rests directly upon the front legs and upon bracket members rigidly anchored in the rear legs so that the weight is not sustained by the pivot members. The seat and back cushions are readily detachable so that they may be repaired or replaced. Most of the metal Chair parts are sheet metal stampings whereby any desired surface ornamentation may be easily applied. All exposed metal partswill be painted or enameled to properly harmonize with the covering of the cushion members. The majority of the metal parts are made of sheet metal stampings and the parts are quickly assembled by bending' and stamping processes. Most ofthe parts are connected by spot welding, and pins or rivets are only needed for the hinge connections strip, theauxiliary strip being stamped to conform with the outer face of the mam covering. f v

2. In a chair, a leg construction comprising an inner metal rod and a sheet metal covering bent about the rod so that the edges of the covering` meet along the inner vertical face of the leg, and a bracket member bent about the inner rod and having arms projecting outwardly, the edges of the covering being bent into abutting relation above and below the projecting arms to hold the bracket /from movement longitudinally of the leg.

3; In achair, a leg construction comprising a `sheet\metal member covering bent into tubular form so that the edges meet along `the inner vertical face of the leg, and a bracket member looped to fit within the leg and having an arm projectingoutwardly at substantial right angles to the leg, the edges of the covering being bent into abutting relation above and belowthe arm to hold the bracket from movement longitudinally of the leg.

4. In a chair, a leg comprising an inner metal rod anda sheet metal covering bent around the rod so that its edges meet dlong one vertical side of the leg, a metallic foot mem'ber comprising a plate adapted t0 engage the lower outer vertical face of the leg covering, a pair of tabs bent laterally about the inner face of the leg, `and a bottom member downwardly convexed and covering the lower end of the leg members, a foot pad positioned beneath the bottom member, and an annular cap member enclosing the edges of the pad and crimped inwardly about the bottom member to hold the vpad in position around the rod so that its edges-meet along y one vertical side ofthe leg, a metallic foot member comprising a plate adapted to engage the lower outer vertical face of the leg covering, a pair of tabs bent laterally about the inner face of the leg, and a bottom member downwardly conveXed and covering the lower end of'the leg members, a rubberl pad* positioned beneath the foot member, and an annular cap comprising a flange extending inwardly over the lower edges of the rubber pad, and an upwardly projecting annular wall that is crimped inwardly about the bottom foot member.

. '6. In a chair, in combination with a metallic back member, a pair of similar leg members each secured to the back at its upper end, each leg'comprising an inner metal rod and a sheet metal covering bent about the rod so that the edges of the covering meet along the inner vertical face of the leg, a plurality of bracket members each having a portion bent around the rod of a leg and having a laterally projecting arm, the edges of the cover- (p ing being bent into abutting relation above and below the arm to anchor the bracket in place against movement longitudinally of the leg, and metallic bracing struts connecting certain of the bracket arms and welded thereto.

-7. In a chair, in combination with a metallic back-member, a seat, and supporting members for the seat, a pair of similar leg members each secured to the back at its upper end, each leg comprising an inner metal rod and a sheet metal covering bent about the rod so that the edges of the covering meet along the inner vertical face of the leg, a plurality of sheet metal bracket members each bent about the rod of a leg and having its ends projecting laterally to form an arm and a hinge lug respectively, the edges of the covering being bent into abutting relation above and below the .arm and lug to anchor the bracket in position against movement longitudinally of the leg, metallic bracing struts connecting certain of the bracket arms and welded thereto, and means for pivotally connecting the seat and supporting member to the several hinge lugs.

8. In a chair, in combination with front and rear legs, eachleg being provided with upper and lower hinge lugs, and struts pivotally connecting the lower hinge lugs of the front and rear legs, a seat comprisingca sheet metal base member, hinge lugs secured thereto and pivotally connected to the upper hinge lugs of the several legs, the base member being slit centrally from a point adjacent but spaced from its rear edge to a point adjacent but spaced from its front edge, the metal adjacent the slit being pressed downwardly so as to form a depressed open slot, a cover plate welded to the base plate above the slot so as to complete a guide channel and reinforce the base-plate, a slide mounted in the channel and having a hingelug projecting downwardly through the slot, and struts pivoted to the hinge lug and projecting downwardly and outwardly with their lower ends ivoted to the lower hinge lugs of the rear g9S. In a chair, in combination with 4front and rear legs, each leg being provided with upper and lower hinge lugs, and struts pivotally connecting the lower hinge lugs of the front and rear legs, a seat comprising a sheet metal base member, hinge lugs secured thereto and pivotally connected to the upper hinge lugs of the several legs, the base member being slit centrally from a point adjacent but spaced from its rear edge to a point adjacent but spaced from its front edge. the metal adjacent the slit being pressed downwardly so as to form a depressed open slot, a cover l plate welded to the base plate above the slot so as to complete a guide channel and reinforce the base-plate, a slide mounted in the channel and having a hinge lug and a locking lug projecting downwardly through the slot, a latch member pivotally mounted on the lower face of the base plate and adapted to engajge the locking lug when the slide is at the ront end of the channel, and struts pivoted to the ninge lug of the slide and projecting downwardly and outwardly with their lower ends pivoted to the lower hinge lugs of the rear legs.

10. In a chair, in combination with front and rear legs, each leg being provided with upper and lower hinge lugs, and struts ivotally connecting the lower hinge lugs ofp the front and rear legs, a seat comprising a sheet metal base member, hinge lugs secured thereto and pivotally connected to the upper hinge lugs o f the several legs, the base member being slit centrally from a point adjacent but spaced from its rear edge to a point adjacent butspaced from its front edge, the lower face of the seat being formed with a guide channel extending centrally from front to rear thereof, a slide mounted in the channel and having a downwardly projecting hinge lug, andstruts pivoted to this hinge lug and projecting downwardly and outwardly with their lower ends pivoted to the lower hinge lugs of the rear legs.

11. In a chair, in combination with front and rear legs, each leg being provided with upper and lower hinge lugs, and struts pivotally connecting the lower hinge lugs of the front and rear legs, a seat comprising a sheet metal basemember, hinge lugs secured thereto and pivotally connected tothe upper hinge lugs of the several legs, the base member being slit eentrallv from a point adjacent but spaced from its rear edge to a point adjacent but spaced from its front edge, the lower face of the seat being formed with a guide channel extending centrally lfrom front to rear thereof, a slide mounted in the channel and having a downwardly projecting hinge lug and a locking lug, a latch member mounted on the lower face of the seat and adaptedto engage the locking lug when the slide is at the front end of the guide channel. and struts pivoted to the hinge lug of the slide and prof jecting downwardly and outwardly with their lower ends pivoted to the lower hinge lugs of the rear legs. v

12; In a chair, in combination with a leg, a metallic foot member comprising a plate engaging the lower outer vertical face of the leg, a pair of tabs bent laterally about the inner face of the leg, and a bottom member downwardly conveXed and covering the lower end of the leg, a foot pad positioned beneath the bottoni member, and an annular cap member enclosing th edges of the'pad and crimped inwardly about the bottom member to hold the pad in position thereon.

13. In a chair, in combination with a leg, a metallic foot member comprising a plate engaging the lower outer vertical face of the leg, algmir of tab'bent laterally about the innei` ace of the leg, and a bottom member downwardly covexed and covering the lower end of the leg and formed wthzoutwardly 1 5 projecting edge portions, a rubber pad pos1- tioned beneath the foot member, and an annular cap having inwardly extending edge anges engaged about the projecting `edge portions o the foot member and ad. GUSTAVE F. COEKDUAN. 

